Five persons of a gang, including a woman, were arrested on Friday for allegedly kidnapping a realtor, shooting a pornographic video and seeking ransom for not releasing it.
The accused were produced in a Tiruchengode court on Saturday.
Inspector General of Police, West Zone, P. Sivanandi, said that on Tuesday V. Magudeswaran (36) of Manuvakatupalayam near Tiruchengode received a phone call from a woman in connection with a land sale in Keloripattimedu village.
‘Land deal'
Mr. Sivanandi said that while Mr. Magudeswaran was discussing the deal with the woman at the spot, some persons, who came in a car, pulled the two into the vehicle and fled the spot.
According to a complaint lodged by the victim, the kidnappers drove the vehicle to Sankagiri and locked him along with the woman in a house owned by one of the gang members.
Mr. Magudeswaran was forced, at knifepoint, to perform a pornographic act, which was filmed, Mr. Sivanandi said.
The miscreants also forced him to pose for a photograph, making it appear as if he was stabbing the woman.
Only later, did the hostage realise that the woman who had phoned him for the land deal was part of the gang. The gang members took away 6.25 grams of gold jewels and Rs.25,000 from Mr. Magudeswaran.
Conditional release
They released him on Wednesday on condition that he would pay them a ransom of Rs.10 lakh over the next two days. They threatened to release the pictures and the video if the ransom is not paid, Mr. Sivanandi said.
When attempts made by Mr. Magudeswaran to arrange the money failed, the gang called and threatened him with dire consequences, the IG said.
Prompt action
He reported the incident to the police. A special team was formed to nab the miscreants. Within 12 hours, the police nabbed five of the gang members – P. Mohanraj (26), S. Shanmugam (29), N. Suresh and S. Sengutuvan of Tiruchengode and nearby areas – and P. Buvaneshwari (30) of Kumarapalayam.
Search is on for the driver of the four-wheeler and another member of the gang, who fled from the spot while the arrest was effected, Mr. Sivanandi said.
The knife and other weapons used for threatening the hostage, his two-wheeler, jewels and Rs.17,000 were recovered from the gang members. Efforts were on to recover the camera used for taking pictures and videographing, the IG said.
